Trapping Surveillance
This division involves the scientific collection and analysis of data necessary for the District to control larval or adult mosquitoes in the most efficient manner with minimal impact on the environment. The main facets of the program are monitoring of environmental factors, the monitoring of adult mosquitoes, the monitoring of mosquito-borne disease transmission and the monitoring of the susceptibility of mosquitoes to larvicides and adulticides.
Truck Trap Surveillance
The truck-trap program is run every night starting May 1st and continues through October 31st. It provides information on flight activity of male and female mosquitoes at 54 locations around the county using a non-selective trap. A truck-trap is a large screened funnel attached to the top of a pickup truck. Each route is three miles long and mosquitoes are trapped in a net attached to the end of the screen funnel as the truck drives its route. Rainfall data is also collected at the beginning and end of each route providing information for the larviciding program on possible new larval breeding. The insect collections from the truck-traps are taken to the District’s laboratory where the mosquitoes are identified to species and sex and then counted. This information along with weather data collected from each route is tabulated and used to determine where larviciding and adult control may be necessary.
Domestic Inspections
The Daytime Landing Rate Program supplements the Truck-Trap Program by providing information on the biting activity of adult mosquitoes. This program functions in conjunction with the Citizen Service Request Program since citizen service requests are triggered by mosquito biting activity. The inspector visits the site of the request and determines the level of adult infestation, the species of annoyance mosquitoes and breeding source if possible. The resident is informed, verbally or with a Door Hanger, of measures the individual may be able to take if the mosquito source is from their property. If the inspector determines the infestation is wide spread by taking multiple mosquito landing rates, the inspector makes treatment recommendations to their supervisor. In addition to visiting the areas where citizen service requests occur, the inspector will visit areas found to have high adult mosquito flight activity from truck traps. He or she will determine the level of annoyance by adults and/or the presence and stage of larval mosquitoes.
Click to see a landing rate of over 100 per minute: http://youtu.be/6ZVVWZgall4
Ground Larvicide
The Ground Larviciding Program focuses on inspecting the roadside ditches, fields and retention ponds for the presence of mosquito larvae using a standard pint-sized dipper. When mosquito larvae are found, appropriate control measures are taken to insure that the larvae or pupae do not become adults. Each inspector has an assigned geographic area of the county for which they are responsible to check on a regular basis.
Marine Larvicide
The Marine Larviciding Component is used in the coastal areas of the county. It is comprised of two marine operative inspectors who inspect or survey the coastal islands and mangrove fringes of the larvicide zones that cannot be accessed by trucks or helicopters. When larval mosquitoes are found, the marine inspectors coordinate with an aerial inspector to treat the area by helicopter.
Aerial Larvicide
The Aerial Larviciding Program focuses on inspecting the coastal areas of Lee County that flood from either rainfall or tide and are not accessible by ground vehicles. Aerial Inspectors use helicopters to search these areas for the presence of mosquito larvae and treat them appropriately. Each of the District’s five aerial inspectors are assigned specific geographical areas which allows them to become familiar with the mosquito breeding sites and the environment’s response to rainfall and tide. Each inspector has an assistant which loads the helicopter with larvicide and fuel. They will also assist by inspecting areas accessible by vehicle.
Ground Adulticide
A small area of infestation can be treated with Ground Adulticiding trucks. These trucks use ULV (ultra-low volume) technology. The equipment atomizes or creates many tiny droplets which drift through the air and contact the mosquito in flight. The Ground Adulticiding trucks achieve excellent results in areas with a good network of roads. These trucks usually begin working just after sunset and treat an average of 2,000 acres per night. Lee County Mosquito Control fleet consists of 13 Ground Adulticiding trucks.
Aerial Adulticide
During periods of high adult mosquito activity, it is necessary to treat large areas of the County; this can be accomplished by using helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft. Lee County Mosquito Control District has two Douglas C-3’s and two King Air’s allowing for quick coverage of the county when there is a significant mosquito problem. Equipped with the latest technologies of GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation and night vision goggles these fixed-wing adulticiding missions are conducted at night, usually between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m., when adult mosquitoes are active and more likely to be exposed to the very small droplets produced by the ULV (ultra-low volume) spray system. Lee County also has one helicopter equipped with a high pressure ULV spray system for treating the outer islands of the county, these missions are conducted in the early morning hours, usually at sunrise.
Pilots
The pilots of Lee County Mosquito Control District have vast experience. Combined they have over 200+ years of flying. District pilots have a variety of backgrounds such as airline, corporate, forestry, military, and off-shore commercial.
Mapping
Needs description
Susceptibility Monitoring
Susceptibility bioassays are conducted using established lab mosquito colonies and wild mosquitoes in their larval, pupal, and adult phases to monitor for any indication that wild mosquitoes are developing tolerance to the chemical control measures used. Colonies of fresh-water, Culex quinquefasciatus, and a major pest salt-marsh species, Aedes taeniorhynchus are maintained daily (seven days a week) for the bioassay reference, Field Validation Section, Lee County Public School Science curriculums, and public education. Ten larval susceptibility bioassays and over sixteen pupal emergence trials for field applied SMethoprene were performed in 2008. The “Bottle Bioassay for Adult Mosquitoes” was added to the program this year with six adult bottle bioassays being performed for the active ingredient naled, which is used in the adulticide Dibrom. The susceptibility testing unit added ‘Adult Bottle Bioassay’ testing in 2008. This adds the ability to look for resistance to adulticides in the adult mosquito. The resistance testing unit has incorporated a water chiller into the water bath used for larval bioassays. Cold water temperatures cause mosquito larvae to cease activities (such as feeding) and reduce general metabolic activity. The chiller will allow us to evaluate larval response to pesticides in cold water and to determine the temperature at which pesticides become ineffective.
Disease Surveillance
The mosquito-borne disease surveillance program was established in 1977 to monitor and detect arbovirus activities in an effort to minimize the risk of human infections throughout Lee County. The program consists of four sections, which include sentinel chicken surveillance, mosquito population monitoring, laboratory testing, and human case investigation. There are 17 sentinel chicken sites located throughout the county to assess local mosquito transmission of West Nile virus (WNV), St. Louis Encephalitis (SLEV), and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEEV) in birds. Mosquito population monitoring utilizes specialized adult mosquito trapping techniques such as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light traps to monitor levels of the vector mosquito Culex nigripalpus, and BG traps to monitor Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Our laboratory testing capabilities include the analysis of sentinel chicken sera samples for WNV, SLEV, and EEEV viral antibody response through ELISA testing; and the analysis of vector mosquitoes for WNV, SLEV, EEEV, dengue, chikungunya (CHIKV), Zika (ZIKV), and yellow fever through RT-PCR for the presence of viral RNA. This data indicates the presence of infected or potentially infected mosquitoes in our local area. Human case investigation involves determining when and where a disease was contracted. A close working relationship with our local Florida Department of Health helps to determine when and where the mosquito-borne disease was contracted and whether it was acquired locally or during travel outside of Lee County or outside the country.
Aircraft Maintenance
The Aircraft mechanics—also called FAA A&P mechanics, inspect, repair, and service all Lee County Mosquito Control District aircraft. Although the crews are divided between Helicopters and Fixed wing, they each are capable of working on any of the District’s aircraft. Every District aircraft mechanic has his FAA A&P certification with the exception of the radio repairman, Mr. Woodside. Several mechanics also hold FAA Inspection Authorization ratings.
Fleet Maintenance
The Fleet Maintenance department of Lee County Mosquito Control District perform inspections, diagnostics, repairs, and rebuild components and assemblies for all non-aviation vehicles and equipment. They repair everything from hand tools to heavy equipment. Much of it is vintage surplus equipment which a machinist must fabricate the parts needed for repair or replacement. The Department is also called upon for many other jobs outside of traditional fleet maintenance such as setting tanks.
Finance
The Administration and Finance department manages all financial aspects of the District. This includes preparation of the budget and financial reports, all required governmental reporting, information technology, payroll and benefits, accounts payable, accounts receivable, risk management and all other aspects of financial administration. The fiscal year period for the District is October 1 through September 30.
Purchasing & Supply
The Purchasing and Supply department is responsible for materials procurement, inventory and quality management, cost and usage level analysis, purchasing coordination, bid and contractual negotiations, product research, and management of the stockroom, chemical storage, fuel storage, and two warehouses. Purchasing and Supply stores and tracks over 44,000 line items essential to all departments.
For information on current bid opportunities and bid results go to Bid Opportunities
Facilities Maintenance
The Facilities and Maintenance Department personnel are responsible for the maintenance and repair of over 18 buildings with a total of over 180,000 square feet. This responsibility also includes non-building structures such as the general maintenance of all insecticide tanks, the fuel tank farm, roadways and drainage of the District property.
Grounds Maintenance
The Grounds Department is responsible for maintaining the grounds of the District headquarters. This includes maintaining the lawn, vegetation, runways, and ponds. An additional duty is washing equipment and vehicles.
Research
Although the District cut the research section and is not directly conducting research studies, we are partnering with Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) on a study that will benefit the District and Lee County. LCMCD was able to partner with FGCU this year on a research project and received a $100,000 grant to study non-target effects of aerial adulticiding.